Can you connect wifi and Bluetooth at the same time? `
Wifi and Bluetooth are popular wireless technologies that most people depend on for different purposes. Though they are both quite effective, connecting them at the same time is not the best idea. Bluetooth and wifi work better separately than together.
This is because you may experience weak wifi connections or slow speeds when both wireless technologies are on. If, for instance, you try listening to your playlist through a Bluetooth speaker and have the internet on your laptop on, the wifi signal will suddenly get weak. Connecting both wifi and Bluetooth at the same time will not give you a good experience with your devices since both technologies use a similar frequency.
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Why you should not connect wifi and Bluetooth at the same time
These two wireless technologies work on the 2.4 GHz frequency. Wifi and Bluetooth will, therefore, interfere with one another as you try to use them simultaneously. This can make it impossible to accomplish certain tasks as you use both wireless technologies. The data throughput of Bluetooth is also likely to drop, making it hard for the paired devices to work as expected. You may also experience slow internet connections.
How can you prevent wifi and Bluetooth from interrupting one another?
If you choose to connect wifi and Bluetooth to achieve a particular purpose, you should do certain things to prevent interference. Start with the following.
Change the router’s wifi channel
Every router automatically picks a channel on which it can work. If you wish to use these two wireless technologies at the same time without experiencing any connectivity issues, you should change the wifi channel your router is on. Feel free to use an app that can help you detect the Wifi channel that is not commonly used around your area. This ensures that no other device affects the performance of your router.
If you are working with a TP-link router, you should go to the web management page to look for the channel option under wireless settings. Click on basic settings and pick a channel such as 6, 1, or 11. Such channels are known to more stable compared to the rest.
Adjust the wifi channel width of your router
Once you have changed the router’s channel, you should look for a setting known as wifi channel width. Ensure that you change it manually in your router settings. Doing this can ensure that you still get a strong connection even as you use Bluetooth for other purposes.
Switch to 5GHz wifi frequency
Do you have a quality router that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands? You can eliminate interference issues by switching to the 5 GHz mode. Since Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz band, switching the router to the 5 GHz mode ensures that they don’t interrupt each other as you use both wireless technologies simultaneously. Though this option reduces interference, you should consider the internet-enabled devices you use before making the switch. If, for instance, you use a device such as a printer, it may fail to support internet wifi in this frequency mode.
Ensure that there are no sources causing interference nearby
If you have devices such as microwaves or cordless phones, you should ensure that they are very far from the Bluetooth terminal. Such devices also use the 2.4 GHz frequency band and thus increase the interference. The fewer devices you have, the easier it is to solve interference issues.
Disable either Bluetooth or wifi to minimize the interference
Since using both of these wireless technologies is not a good idea, disabling one of them can help you use the other without any problems. If, for instance, you are not getting any wifi connection when you are using both of them, you can disable Bluetooth for a few minutes then try enabling it again. Do this after your internet-enabled devices have successfully connected to the wifi network. If you are prioritizing the Bluetooth function, you can disable wifi temporarily.
How do Bluetooth and wifi compare?
Wifi |
Bluetooth |
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 3.6 Hz frequency band |
2.4 GHz frequency band |
This gives you access to internet at high speeds |
It allows you to connect different devices without relying on cables. |
Devices can still work even when they are 300 feet away |
The devices have to be within a distance of 30 feet. |
Can connect a lot of devices depending on the router you choose |
Connects up to 7 devices |
Configuring it is can be challenging for some people. |
Simple to connect |
It consumes a lot of power |
Consumes less power |
Conclusion
Have you noticed a change in the wifi speed every time you are trying to use a Bluetooth mouse? This is a common occurrence that most internet users report. Though it is possible to connect Bluetooth and wifi at the same time, you may not enjoy excellent signals or fast speeds. Such interference issues can be quite frustrating when you are trying to achieve something.
It happens because both wifi and Bluetooth work on the 2. 4 Hz frequency. Turning them on at the same time, therefore, causes an interference. You can solve the problem by doing a few things such as switching to the 5 GHz frequency mode, changing the wifi channel, adjusting the channel width of your router, or enabling the Bluetooth coexistence function. Alternatively, you should consider disabling one of the wireless technologies temporarily to see if the other one works well.
FAQs
If both Bluetooth and Wifi work on the same frequency, how are they different?
The maximum data transfer rates of Bluetooth are 25 Mbps, while wifi can reach a maximum speed rate of 250 Mbps. Apart from that, Bluetooth shares data at a short-range while wifi can share data at a long-range.
Which wireless technology is more secure between wifi and Bluetooth?
Wifi. This comes with advanced security standards to protect you from any security threats. Bluetooth does not come with such standards and is, therefore, less secure.
